I really love sugar, but at my middle age, it doesn’t love me back so much anymore. I will most likely never give it up entirely, but I’ve learned that in order to maintain my weight, I really need to cut back on the sugar and carbs.

My favorite low carb chef and cookbook author has to be George Stella. His story is so inspirational! He lost over 250 lbs eating low carb or “Stella Style” as he coined it. He comes across as a very genuine person. He is a professional chef and family-man who wants to help others with his recipes. I’ve shared his recipes in the past here on the blog, because I think they are great. I was thrilled that he just came out with this new cookbook – The Complete Low Carb Cookbook and that I have this opportunity to feature it here and host a giveaway as well!

The Complete Low Carb Cookbook Review

This cookbook contains 130 recipes that are made without wheat or added sugar. Recipes include staples in the Stella kitchen like Chocolate Ganache, Blackening Spice and Whipped Cream. These are the recipes for those “staples” that appear in other recipes. The contents include these chapters – breakfast, lunch, appetizers, sides, snacks, sweet bites, desserts. Other chapters are designated by food type – poultry, meats and seafood.

Concerning sweeteners, George has used Splenda, but he suggests using the sweetener that you prefer. I use Truvia, which is a combination of Stevia Leaf and Erythritol (a sugar alcohol). I sweeten to taste and find that using Truvia, I use less sugar substitute than his recipes call for. This really comes down to personal preference.

Photo Source George, Christian and Elise Stella

The first recipe that I tried was the Cinnamon Bun Minute Muffin. This recipe has all the elements that I love! It’s a single serving, all of the ingredients I had on hand, it is super-fast and extremely easy. It is truly low-carb and tastes fantastic. The following recipe is shared with permission.

1. Add all ingredients to a microwave-safe coffee mug, and mix with a fork until well combined.

2. Microwave for about 1 minute on high, or until batter rises in cup, and a toothpick stuck into the center comes out mostly clean. Microwaves vary, but 1 minute seems to be the minimum cooking time, so start there and add a few seconds, if needed.

3. Let cool 3 minutes before serving.

HELPFUL TIPS
These are much better when topped with his Buttercream Cheese Frosting, see recipe below!

He likes to add a few pecans into the batter as well!

Calories: 340 Fat: 27g Protein: 19g Fiber: 5g Net Carbs: 4g

BUTTERCREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Or Any Flavor Low-Carb Frosting
By George Stella

This “master” low-carb frosting recipe uses real butter and cream cheese to combine the best of both your typical buttercream and cream cheese frostings. The vanilla extract can be swapped for any type of extract to match the baked goods you are frosting.
Prep Time 10 min / Cook Time none / Serves 12

Here is how my muffin came out. I’ve made these a few times now and love them! For the Buttercream Cheese frosting, I made my own single serving by following the ingredient list but cutting way back on the amounts and used this to frost my muffin.

I actually took one to-go the other night. We were traveling from a soccer game to James’ marching band competition, and how happy was I to be enjoying this wonderfully decadent treat on the drive over. Decadent and filling, yes, but not damaging to the waistline or to my blood sugar levels. 🙂

The next recipe that I tried was the Marinara & Mozzarella Meatloaf. This recipe received “hundreds of thousands of views on Facebook” and this particular recipe was “the single most popular post” that George ever made. Here’s what his recipe looks like.

Photo Source George, Christian and Elise Stella

This meatloaf was very moist and delicious! I used 80% lean beef and next time I will use 93% lean ground beef. I added a bit too much tomato sauce to my meat mixture, otherwise, this meatloaf had a great Italian flavor and I would make it again. Here’s how mine came out. Yes, that is a side of spaghetti squash!

I mentioned that he includes a chapter of recipe “Staples” in this cookbook. One of those is his Blackening Spice. I used this spice rub on my grilled boneless pork chops. Here is how these looked.

We enjoyed these as well! The spice seemed to help to maintain the moisture in the pork chops. I bought more spices yesterday so that I could have more of this on-hand. I plan on cooking a pork tenderloin in the slow cooker with a few splashes of Worcestershire sauce and some of this Blackening Spice – talk about easy, and I predict, delicious!

What’s up next? I am going to try the Waldorf Coleslaw and add some rotisserie chicken to make it a complete meal.

The recipes in this cookbook are wonderful and it’s my new low carb favorite. I’m a big George Stella fan and can’t wait to see what low carb/Stella Style recipes he comes up with next! 🙂

About The Complete Low Carb Cookbook

George Stella’s Food Network TV show and five bestselling cookbooks have established him as the leading authority on low-carb cooking. Utilizing fresh ingredients that anyone can find in their local supermarket, George Stella’s recipes are simple to make, but truly satisfying. George’s amazing weight loss success, down to earth voice, and pension for comfort foods have put his books at the very top of every health-conscious person’s cookbook collection.

In The Complete Low-Carb Cookbook, George has compiled a lifetime of expertise into one, easy-to-follow book. Whether you have been living a low-carb lifestyle for years, or are simply looking to eat less processed foods, this cookbook is for you! Over 60 full-color photos will help you present dishes that look as good as they taste. All 130 recipes are made without any wheat or added sugar, making them gluten-free, and great for diabetics as well. Deliciously better!

George Stella’s approach to cooking without processed foods makes The Complete Low-Carb Cookbook a perfect companion to nearly any healthy lifestyle. Whether you eat low-carb all of the time, or are simply looking to cut down on refined flour and sugar, these recipes are full of flavor with a heaping helping of George’s trademark ingenuity.

978-1-934193-96-9

81/4x 101/4

Paperbound

224 pages

Full-color photographs

About George Stella and Family

It’s hard to believe that not long ago, Celebrity Chef George Stella weighed 467 pounds. He was suffering from congestive heart failure and living on disability when he decided he had to take action. George has lost more than 250 pounds by changing the way he looks at food.

But that’s not all, George’s wife, Rachel lost 75 pounds herself, eldest son, Anthony also lost 75, and his youngest son, Christian has lost 160 lbs!

Buy It

George Stella’s The Complete Low-Carb Cookbook is available at Quail Ridge Press for $19.95 (currently on sale from the $24.95 full price). Click here to order online or call 1-800-343-1583 to place your order.

George Stella’s The Complete Low Carb Cookbook Giveaway

One Moms Own Words reader will win a copy of George Stella’s The Complete Low Carb Cookbook.

Giveaway ends on Nov. 17, 11:59 PM EST. Open to US. Winners (18 or older) will be chosen by Random.org through Rafflecopter and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted. Thank you for entering and good luck!!

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In a series of holiday family meetings, my family has enjoyed the opportunity to prepare meals in an increasing manner of of looking towards different meals yearly. As the next holiday approaches: I might have to find something new and exciting for all the different generations.Whether I win or lose; I intend to share this great opportunity (giveaway) through newsletters, email, friends, family etc!